Ind. Attorney General Says School Bus Fees Illegal

Indiana's attorney general says in a legal opinion that it is unconstitutional for the state's school districts to end free school bus service by turning transportation over to outside agencies.

The opinion issued Thursday by Attorney General Greg Zoeller supports arguments that opponents have made against a bus fee that started this fall in the Franklin Township district of suburban Indianapolis.

District officials say budget troubles forced it to get out of the transportation business by turning its buses over to an agency that is charging at least $40 a month per child for bus service.

Zoeller issued a similar non-binding opinion last year that district's couldn't directly charge bus fees.

The district argues that it isn't involved in the contract between parents and the bus service.